Fuse-block.



PATENTBD APR. 7, 1903.

FUSE BLOCK.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 7, 1902.

h J. B. MORGAN.

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N0 MODEL.

- [/VVEN TOR .fl/z/w/w/ym Attorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MORGAN, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR. TO WILLIAM I D. PROBST,OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

FUSE-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,006, dated April 7,1903.

- Application filed August 7,1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Bit/IORGAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Youngs-' town, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse-Blocks; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to electrical thermal cut-outs ot' the typecommonly known as a fuse-block and embodying a safety-fuse orsafetydevice whose fusible element blows out or is broken by anexcessive current of abnormal strength, thus automatically opening orbreaking the working circuit within which the fuse-block is included.-

The invention possesses special utility as an improvement in fuse-blocksof the type usually associated with electric motors of street-railwaysystems and is designed to overcome the objections which exist to manyof the ordinary forms of fuse-blocks, which are. at times verytroublesome and frequently are so difficult to handle and re-fuse as tooften-' times entirely cripple anelectric car. In this special use ofthe invention or in any other use to which it may be applied the samehas in view a simple and practical construction of safety deviceinvolving the greatest economy'in the use thereof, besides providing forperfect safety in handling and enabling a blown fuse to be replaced withfacility, thus saving the time and annoyance usually incident toreplacing a blown fuse in many forms of fuse-blocks or service-boxes inevery-day use.

, In carrying out the invention the same contemplates a constructionwhich readily admits of a motorman carrying an extra block orfuse-holder at all times, so that if a fuse blows it is simply necessaryto remove the old block or fuse-holder and put in its place the extraone, after whichthe removed block or holder may be re-fused at aconvenient time.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readilyappear as the nature Serial Nol18,792- (No model.)

of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts which will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential feature of the invention involved in the elementscooperating to provide for the detachable mounting of the fuse holder orblock is necessarily susceptible to some change from a structuralstandpoint without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention;but a preferred embodiment of the latter is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of afuse-block embodying theimprovements contemplated by the present invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: isa detail in perspective of the detachablefuseholder which carries the fusible element and consists of aninsulating carrying-bar and the contact-plugs associated therewith. Fig.5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2, showing moreplainly the contacting engagement between one of the contact-plugs andthe keeper-socket for receiving the same.

Like reference-numerals designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawings.

As a safety-fuse or thermal cut-out the invention is capable of generalapplication to working circuits for different purposes wherever it isdesired to protect an apparatus or instrument from an excessive orabnormal current; but as the device forming the subject-matter of thepresent application is of special utility as a part of a fuse-block forelectrical motor-circuits such use of the invention is shown forillustrative purposes in the drawings.

In the construction shown the device is illus trated as coupled up foruse in a one-wire circuit, although it is obvious to those familiar withthe art that when a complete fmetallic circuit is employed, as instationary motors, a fuse may be used in connection with each pole.

In the adaptation illustrated the numeral 1 designates the mainbase-board for the f useare clamped between the base-piece 9 and theblock supporting the Working parts of the de vice and adapted to bemounted in the usual Way Within the ordinary service box or casing, suchas employed for housing devices of this character. The main base-boardhas arranged thereon in the usual way the offstanding shield board orslab 2, which, like the base or base-board, is of fiber or equivalentinsulating material, and at one side of the shield board or slab 2 islocated the resistance coil or card 3, to one of the terminals of whichis fitted the binding-post connection at for one section of the maincircuit-wire, while to the other terminal of the said resistance coil orcard 3 is suitably connected the metallic conductor-link 5, extendingthrough the central shield or slab 2 to the side thereof opposite thelocation of the coil or card 3 and having a binding-post or equivalentconnection 6 with one of the metallic keeper-sockets 7,with whichcodperates the detachable fuse-holder 8. The metallic keeper-socketsconstitute a part of the safety-fuse or thermal cut-out proper, andthere is employed in connection with the detachable fuse a pair of thesaid keeper sockets arranged in opposite spaced relation and alinedwithin the same longitudinal plane at one side of the center shield orslab 2. A supplemental base-piece 9 may be employed in the mounting ofthe keeper-sockets upon the main baseboard, although this is a merestructural detail that may be varied at will; but irrespective of themanner of supporting the keepersockets upon their base the same maintainthe relation indicated. The said sockets 7 are duplicates inconstruction, and each of the same essentially consists of a base member10, having a pair of offstanding cheekplates 11, arranged in spacedparallel relation to provide an open socket for receiving a plug memberof the fuse-holderin the manner to be presently explained. Thecheekplates 11 of each keeper-socket are preferably disconnected toprovide an open slot or socket throughout, and associated with the sameis a leaf locking-spring 12, arranged at What may be properly termed theinner edge of the cheek plates or pieces and whose tension is normallyexerted in a direction against the said cheek-plates. The locking-spring12, which is thus associated with the cheek-plates of eachkeeper-socket, is located at the inner side of said socket and acts as aspring-closure for such side of the socket, and while thelocking-springs may be secured permanently in the position indicated byany suitable means the preferable arrangement is shown in the drawingsand consists in making the springs of a substantial L form, thusproviding the same with holding-arms 12, which underside of thebase-plate 10 of the keepersockets. In this connection the fasteningdevices It for the keeper-sockets serve to clamp together the severalelements perma nently associated therewith.

The keeper-socket 7 opposite the one to which the conductor-link 5 isconnected has suitably fitted thereto a binding-post device 4 for theother section of the main circuitwire, with which the fuse-block isconnected.

The detachable fuse-holder is readily removable and replaceable withreference to the oppositely-located keeper-sockets '7. In the preferableconstruction the said fuse-holder essentially comprises a carrying-bar15, preferably of insulating material, and the .oppositely-locatedterminal contact-plugs 16. The terminal contact-plugs 16 are usually inthe form of short flat plates arranged in parallel relation andprojecting beyond the same side of the carrying-bar 15, and at one endthe said contact-plugs 16 are fastened to the ends of the carrying-bar15 through the medium of the securing-bolts or equivalent fastenings 17.These securing-bolts are preferably provided with the bindingnuts 18,which serve to fasten the opposite extremities of the fusible element 19upon the metallic plugs 16. The said fusible element 19 preferablyconsists of a fusible wire link of any suitable character and whichextends longitudinally alongside of the insulated carrying-bar 15, buthas metallic connection with the contact-plugs 16. The bind ingnuts 18provide simple and convenient means whereby the ends of the blown fusemay be readily removed and a new fusible element secured in position.The end portions of the terminal contact-plugs 16, which project beyondthe insulated carrying-bar 15, are adapted to have a detachableinterlocked registering engagement within the metallic keeper-sockets 7.Each plug 16 fits snugly within each keeper-socket and contacts with thecheek-plates 11 thereof, thus providinga firm metallic contact betweenthese elements of the safety device. To provide for securely locking theplugs of the fuse-holder Within their keepers, while at the same timepermitting of the ready removal of the fuse-holder, an interlocking slipengagement is provided for between the plugs and the locking-springs 12.This engagement is preferably eifected by forming at the inner edges ofthe contactplugs 16 the catch-lugs or projections 20,which have asnapping engagement with the holding-notches 21, formed in the springs12, said springs also being preferably provided with flared outerterminals 22 to facilitate the ready entrance of the plugs 16 into thekeepers.

When a fuse is blown out and it is desired to remove the holder 8, it issimply necessary to place the fingers beneath the inner edge of thecarrying-bar 15 and rest the ball of the hand on the center board 2. Anupward pres sure of the fingers on the carrying-bar 15 will of the plugsfrom then cause a disengagement IOC contact with the keepers and thelockingsprings. This operation permits of the removal of a blown-outfuse and the insertion of a new one with the greatest facility andsafety.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, andmany advantages of the herein-described fuse-block will be readilyapparent, and it will also be understood that changes in the form,proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a safety-fuse block, the combination of a pair of.oppositely-located keeper-sockets for the terminal connections, adetachable fuse-carrying holder consisting of an insulatingcarrying-bar, and offstanding terminal contact plugs slidablyregistering in the keeper-sockets, and a separate locking deviceengaging with each of the terminal plugs and serving to detachablyfasten the same within the keeper-sockets, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fuse-block, the combination with a pair of oppositely-locatedkeeper-sockets for the terminal connections, of a locking-springassociated with each socket, and a detachable fuse-carrying holderhaving metallic plugs engaging said sockets and having an interlockingconnection with the springs, substantially as set forth. I V

3. In a fuse-block, the combination of a pair of oppositely-locatedkeeper-sockets for the terminal connections,locking-springs arranged atone side of said sockets, and a fuse carrying holder having terminalcontactplugs detachably fitting in the socket-keepers and having a slipinterlocking connection with the springs.

4. In a fuse-block, the combination of a pair of oppositely-locatedkeeper-sockets for the terminal connections, locking-springs arranged atthe inner sides of the sockets and extending along the same, and adetachable fuse-carryingholder having terminal contactplugs fitting inthe keeper-sockets, said plugs and springs having coacting interlockingelements.

5. In a fuse-block, the combination of oppositely-located keeper-socketsfor the terminal connections, locking springs arranged along the innersides of the keeper-sockets and provided with holding-notches, and adetachable fuse-carrying holder consisting of an insulatingcarrying-bar, and offstanding terminal contact-plugs having catch-lugsinterlocking with the notches of said springs.

6. In a fuse-block, the combination with a support, of keeper-socketsmounted on the support and each consisting of a base member havingoffstanding parallel cheek-plates,

a locking-spring arranged alongside of each keeper-socket and having aholding-arm extending beneath the base member thereof, and a detachablefuse-carrying holder having metallic-plugs engaging in saidkeeper-sockets and interlocked with said springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. MORGAN.

\Vitnesses:

W. B. REWART, H. C. CORBE'IT.

